Waltz in E

The waltz as a musical form was established from German Ländler pioneered in the 1830’s by Joseph Lanner and Johann Strauss the Senior. A waltz is written in ¾ time employing one chord per measure. The first beat consists of the root of the chord while the second and third beats incorporate the third, fifth (and optionally the seventh of the chord) in first, second or third inversion.

Waltzes reached their peak as a formal dance in Vienna during the mid to late nineteenth century. The Viennese waltz lost its prominence at the end of the First World War. Waltz rhythms are also employed as part of dances in ballets, concert pieces for orchestra and salon pieces like those of Chopin.

The waltz in E Major starts as an ascending syncopated melody over a halting base accompanied by alternating duple and triple rhythms in the treble clef. A second melody assumes a trio like response to the primary melody with a barcarolle-like accompaniment in the base. The secondary melody modulates to C# minor echoing the secondary melody before becoming stormy with a rapid 16th note contrapuntal series of passages before returning

The piece modulates to C# minor in the middle section with a rapid contrapuntal series of passages before returning to the secondary melody in E major eventually modulating to the primary melody of the waltz. The waltz concludes with an echo of the barcarolle-like trio.

The Waltz in E major should be considered a Chopin-like salon piece for piano.

The work was composed from 20 February 2017 through 15 July 2017.